CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

ST. GEORGE'S - Thousands of Grenadians and visitors crowded outside the island's unfinished sports stadium at first light yesterday for the sold-out One-Day International between the West Indies and Australia.

Labourers and technicians who worked throughout the night were putting last-minute touches to the BDS$70 million, 12,000-seat Queen's Park when people started gathering, hours before the official opening of the gates.

Some 15,000 eventually packed into the area, armed with airhorns and other noise-makers.

``I don't want anyone to tell me about this match, I want to witness it myself,'' said a 35-year-old teacher.

It's been 17 years since Grenada hosted an international and tickets were sold out despite doubts about the new ground.

But Prime Minister Keith Mitchell assured people there would be ``a good day's cricket''.

And the pitch proved perfect for batting, aided by a lightning-fast outfield.

Queen's Park has become controversial because of questions about why the government was building a sports stadium before a much-needed new hospital - a position Mitchell has strongly defended, saying one of them had to come first.

There also was speculation that Grenadians might boycott because compatriot Junior Murray, a wicket-keeper, was not selected for the match.

On Tuesday, Mitchell urged Genadians to ``put your differences aside and support the West Indies as a team''.

Yesterday's crowd did.